The Who/Canada 1976 Upgrade

1976 was the year that The Who’s last live tour took place during Keith Moon’s lifetime. Regarding sound sources over the past year, the JEMS group has continued to discover audience recordings of great quality, and last year they released the best sound sources from performances in Jacksonville, Seattle, and Winnipeg. Under such circumstances, there is no doubt that the momentum for re-evaluating The Who’s de facto last tour has increased. As proof of that, even “KEITH’S FINAL LIVE: TORONTO 1976”, which was released six years ago, was recently sold out. Not only was it the last day of the 1976 tour, but it was also reevaluated for its value as it contained the final stage of the last regular live performance of the Original The Who. Of course, since there was a video recording live set for the movie “THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT,” it was Keith’s last live performance, but this was a stage with a special nature, and the content of the performance was different. Even from that point of view, the 1976 Toronto show is more suitable to be called the final show. Since it is such a valuable stage, the title “LAST STAND WITH KEITH MOON”, which is based on the audience recording of the Toronto performance that has been around for a long time, was released early. Although the sound quality of the sound source used there was not bad, the recording condition was difficult because of the rough sound quality and the strong hall echo of the venue, Maple Leaf Garden. However, the new audience recording excavated by JEMS used for “KEITH’S FINAL LIVE: TORONTO 1976” (hereinafter referred to as “already released version”) not only has this point greatly alleviated, but also has an even more lively sound image. It suddenly became easier to listen to. It was the previously released edition that contained it. However, recently, an upper version of the same sound source suddenly appeared, surprising enthusiasts all over the world. The new copy provided by the taper who calls himself JAN has improved the quality even more than the version used for the already released version. If you have the previously released version, you probably know that the taper of this sound source had difficulty connecting the microphone from “I Can’t Explain” to “Substitute”, and I was bouncing back and forth between stereo and monaural. It will be. This problem remains the same. In particular, the part where the noise occurs around 2:22 in the former was completely cut out on the previously released version, causing the rhythm to be strange, but this time we will transplant that part from other parts of the performance. Adjust so that you can hear it smoothly. However, the most noteworthy thing is the upper feel that you can understand at first listen. If you listen and compare after “My Wife”, where the recording is stable, the difference is obvious. You will be surprised at how clear it is, as if a thin fog has cleared or a thin skin has been removed. If you listen to this version, the sound quality of the previously released version will seem muddy and lacking in depth. This is not the result of any modifications such as equalization, but there is no doubt that this is an upper feeling due to the tape being in a better condition. Thanks to the excavation by the JEMS group mentioned earlier, The Who’s 1976 tour is at a very high level with high-quality audience recordings across the board, but with this excavation Toronto has also moved to the top. It has been promoted to a famous sound source that bites in. Even the previously released version, which had already surpassed the rough and echo-rich sound quality of the “LAST STAND WITH KEITH MOON” sound source, sounds faded in front of this upper version. One of the joys of listening to rare sound sources is the improvement in sound quality. It’s really exciting to hear an upper version of the sound source that I’m used to hearing. As mentioned earlier, not only is the visibility much better, but this version, which is freed from the muffled feeling, also has a warmer feel. This kind of upper hand, as a result, will evolve into a document that more realistically conveys the splendor of the day that marked the final beauty of The Who’s regular live tour during Keith’s lifetime. It has become. “SEATTLE 1976” released last year also captured Keith’s drumming so intense that it leaves you speechless, but this upper version also captures his transcendental drumming beautifully. If Keith’s drums sound good, it applies to other sound sources, but his drumming on this day was a perfect combustion play suitable for the last day of the tour. On the contrary, he has become the complete protagonist of this stage. Not only is it intense, but the rhythm is as precise as at the end of “Baba O’Riley”, which is amazing. It is a level that makes you want to think that Keith himself realized that this day was his last live. More than that, what is famous about this day’s performance is the extremely rare development in the second half of the live performance. Usually it ends with “Join Together” sandwiched with “My Generation,” but from there Pete starts playing a long ad-lib. At this point, I suddenly started singing the phrase “fufufu, fufufu”. Yes, the pattern that later became “Who Are You.” From here, Pete repeats the words “I Gotta Know, Who Are You”, and it can be said that this is a valuable scene where the draft of the song was unveiled in 1976. A hint of the song that will be the title of Keith’s last album while he was still alive was revealed at his last concert! And as mentioned above, this upper version release can literally be called “Definitive”, and it has been reborn in a state that is clear and easy to listen to, so that you can understand it at first listen. Since it was originally a high-quality audience recording, in front of the upper feeling so far, let’s declare that it is a release that can be confidently recommended to all The Who mania. Play back a historic day with a rich and realistic sense of presence and a powerful sound image. This is the last day of Keith’s last tour while he was still alive. Live at Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 21st October 1976 PERFECT SOUND(UPGRADE) Disc 1 (45:03) 1. I Can’t Explain 2. Substitute 3. My Wife 4. Baba O’Riley 5. Squeeze Box 6. Behind Blue Eyes 7. Dreaming From the Waist 8. Magic Bus Disc 2 (64:08) 1. Introduction of Tommy 2. Amazing Journey 3. Sparks 4. The Acid Queen 5. Fiddle About 6. Pinball Wizard 7. I ‘m Free 8. Tommy’s Holiday Camp 9. We’re Not Gonna Take It 10. Seem Me Feel Me 11. Summertime Blues 12. My Generation 13. Join Together 14. My Generation Blues 15. Who Are You 16. Won’t Get Fooled Again Roger Daltrey – Vocals, Harmonica Pete Townshend – Guitar, Vocals John Entwistle – Bass, Vocals Keith Moon – Drums, Vocals